Our thoughts

Well on a first glance we would say Gloomhaven won by a landslide. Isaac and his Cephalofair Games won big in all their competing categories. A phenomenal performance and looking at the current rank on BGG and the popularity, not a real surprise there. We don’t think it won all categories rightfully, but the mass has spoken.

Richard Ham (Rahdo) winning best podcast (where’s best video Aldie & co?) was a long due recognition for him and Jen. Besides The Dice Tower and maybe Shut Up and Sit Down, he is one of the biggest influencers out there. From our point of view, a well earned price. We love Edward & Amanda from Heavy Cardboard and we are rooting for a win in 2019 for them. Their growth, passion and quality is almost unparalleled.

Azul, another very popular Essen 2017 title, won the best family game. An amazing achievement by Plan B Games. Haven’t played that one yet, but from other reviews out there, it seems like a perfect think filler game. We did play, and love, Sagrada, also such a beautiful and perfect game for schoolnights and introducing people to the wonderful world of board games.

One of our own favorites of 2017, Lisboa, didn’t receive any recognition sadly, which admitted, is a little surprising. Such a wonderful thematic design and grounded in fantastic mechanisms which sets you in the shoes of the people rebuilding Lisbon.

But, congratulations to all the winners and runner-ups. It also shows that the board game industry is exponential growing and flourishing with so many fantastic not even being nominated.